In a significant political development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his heartfelt congratulations to VV Rajesh and GS Asha Nath, the newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. This gesture follows the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) landmark victory in Kerala's local body elections, a win the Prime Minister described as the end of the longstanding "fixed match" between the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF in the state.
A Landmark Victory in the Capital City
In his congratulatory letter, Prime Minister Modi marked the occasion as a historic moment for Thiruvananthapuram. "In the midst of the festive season and as we begin the year 2026, history was made in the great city of Thiruvananthapuram," he wrote. The PM commended Rajesh and Asha Nath on their oaths of office and also lauded all the newly elected BJP councillors and party workers for their historic performance in the local body polls.
PM Modi emphasized that the party's vision for a developed Thiruvananthapuram (Vikasita Thiruvananthapuram) had found resonance with citizens from all walks of life. He credited the people's trust in the development work undertaken by the central government and its urban development initiatives across various states for this electoral blessing.
Overcoming Decades of Challenge
The Prime Minister's letter also shed light on the arduous journey of the BJP in Kerala, acknowledging the decades of hostility and violence faced by its workers from rival political fronts. He framed the victory as a popular endorsement for a new political paradigm based on "nationalism without exclusion, development without corruption and governance without appeasement."
Sharing the Prime Minister's letter on social media platform X on Thursday, the newly elected Mayor, VV Rajesh, termed the recognition a "New Year's gift given to Kerala by Modiji." He attributed the political change in the capital city to the relentless hard work of BJP cadre over many years.
The Numbers Behind the Win
The electoral outcome that prompted this high-level recognition was sealed on December 26. BJP state secretary and councillor from Kodunganoor ward, VV Rajesh, was elected as the Mayor of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. He secured a decisive victory with 51 votes, comprising support from 50 BJP councillors and one independent member.
His closest competitors, UDF's KS Sabarinathan and LDF's RP Shivaji, received 17 and 29 votes respectively. On the same day, GS Asha Nath was elected as the Deputy Mayor, cementing the BJP's hold on the civic body's leadership. This result marks a pivotal shift in Kerala's political landscape, long dominated by the two traditional fronts.
